Podcast: Critics' Choice Awards (2025) Predictions

*Note* The 2025 Critics' Choice Awards have been postponed until Sunday, January 26 due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. 

Transcript: 
 
​Julian Spivey: Welcome back to The Word on Pop Culture Podcast. I'm Julian Spivey, Creator, Editor of The Word on Pop Culture. You can find us online at thewordonpopculture.com

And this podcast can be found pretty much anywhere podcasts are. As always, please give us a like rating and review. It helps people find us.

I've got Tyler Glover back with us today, and we are going to discuss the Critics' Choice Awards. Welcome back to the show, Tyler.

Tyler Glover: Yes, excited to be here, excited to dive in.

JS: This is something we started doing a few years ago. I kind of prefer the Critics' Choice Awards to the Golden Globes, which just happened last night as we were recording this. They may not be as popular as the Golden Globes, but I feel like there's more weight to them, like they mean a little bit more coming from the critics.

I don't know if you believe that, Tyler, or not.

TG: No, I definitely do.

JS: All right, well, the Critics' Choice Awards will be held on Sunday, January 12th. That's this upcoming Sunday. The telecast can be seen on the E! Channel this year.

It's been on the CW the last few years. So make note of that if you like to watch them. It'll be on the E! Channel this year.

And they'll start at 6 p.m. And for the third year in a row, they will be hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler, who usually does a funny and good job, at least the monologue portion of that very long award show.

Wicked and Conclave are the most nominated films, with 11 nominations apiece. And FX's drama Shogun is the most nominated television series, with six nominations.

We're gonna go ahead and we're gonna discuss who we think are gonna win these awards. So mostly predictions. If we have opinions, if we've seen enough of the performances and shows and movies, we can give our opinions as well.

I'm not going to personally for the movie portion, because I haven't seen enough of them. I probably will during the television portion. I think it would be fair to start out with the movie portion of the Critics' Choice Awards.

That way, if people are listening and they don't really have any interest in the television awards, they can just tune out after we do the movie. So we'll start with the movies, Tyler. How does that sound?

TG: Yes, that sounds good.

JS: Our first category we'll discuss is Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, and the nominees in that category are Danielle Deadwyler for The Piano Lesson, Anjanue Ellis-Taylor for Nickel Boys, Ariana Grande for Wicked, Margaret Qualley for The Substance, Isabella Rossellini for Conclave, Zoe Saldana for Emilia Perez. Tyler, we've seen Zoe Saldana win a lot of these awards. She just won the Golden Globe.

Do you think she has any competition here or is this hers to win?

TG: Well, you know, I know most of this awards race. It's kind of been a weird awards race for supporting actress because Danielle Deadwyler like started out in the lead at the start of the season, and they thought she was going to win. And now some people think she might not manage an Oscar nomination.

But I feel like Ariana Grande and Zoe Saldana are the two that are probably to have the best chance. I will say Margaret Qualley was really, really good in The Substance. And I'm really excited that she's kind of peaking and that her odds of getting an nomination at the Oscars are really good too now.

So I'm really excited about that. See, I honestly thought last night would kind of give us a hint of whether or not Zoe Saldana was vulnerable at all. And with her win last night, I feel like this might be a steamroll all the way to the Oscars, honestly.

JS: Yeah, I kind of feel like Saldana has pretty much got this award season in the bag. I think that there are three of these ladies, there are locks for Oscar nominations. I think Saldana, Grande and Rossellini are all locks for Oscars.

So Qualley, Deadwyler, Ellis-Taylor, they should be all among the actresses fighting for the other two slots when it comes to the Academy Awards. But we're pretty much in unison here on Zoe Saldana winning Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role and Emilia Perez. Let's go on to Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.

And the nominees are Yura Borisov for Anora, Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain, Clarence Maclin for Sing Sing, Edward Norton for A Complete Unknown, Guy Pearce for The Brutalist, and Denzel Washington for Gladiator 2. This seems like the biggest lock of the movie side of the night. It has been in other awards.

I think it will continue to be all the way through the Oscars. Kieran Culkin has been winning this award everywhere for A Real Pain, directed by Jesse Eisenberg, who wrote and co-stars with him. In that film, is there any chance anyone can knock out Kieran Culkin, Tyler?

TG: Honestly, I don't think so. He's one of the last time I counted, it was like 20 Critics' Prizes, more than anybody. There was nobody else even in double digits, if I remember correctly.

And so he's managed to pull off the Globe win last night, too. So I definitely feel like it's his to lose. If there is anyone that could even challenge him a little bit, I feel like that person would be Guy Pearce from The Brutalist because The Brutalist is really peaking.

And I've heard a lot of critics saying that this is the best performance of Guy Pearce's career. And it kind of makes me think, with The Brutalist, it kind of makes me think of Oppenheimer last year because I feel like it could be a picture supporting actor kind of situation. But I don't think that's going to happen.

I do think that Kieran Culkin is, like you said, pretty much a lock. I feel like if there's anyone to challenge him, that's the only one that possibly could.

JS: I think Clarence Maclin could be the potential dark horse here. He wasn't even nominated for Golden Globe. But you know who wasn't also nominated for Golden Globe last night?

Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Hard Truths, who's been winning a lot of critic prizes for Best Actress. And she was not nominated at all. And if you look through some of the categories last night, Anjanue Ellis-Taylor wasn't nominated at all.

Daniel Deadwyler wasn't nominated at all. The Golden Globes have done some things to fix their reputation, but they still have a major issue when it comes to nominating. African-American or Black actors and actresses.

So I think Clarence Maclin could actually be the dark horse here, but yes, I think Kieran Culkin has this one on lock. And there is a little bit of controversy as we hear at these sort of things, because Culkin is considered by many to really be a co-lead of that film with Jesse Eisenberg. So this is maybe a little bit of a category fraud in an attempt to get him an Oscar.

TG: Yeah, and I think that there's a lot of that actually this year too, because even in Supporting Actress, Saldana and Grande arguably too. So I feel like there's a lot. This is a definitely a year of category fraud.

JS: So once again, we have agreed on Zoe Saldana for Best Supporting Actress and Kieran Culkin for Best Supporting Actor. Let's get on to the Best Actress in a Motion Picture. And the nominees are Cynthia Erivo for Wicked, Karla Sofia Gascon for Emilia Perez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Hard Truths, Angelina Jolie for Maria, Mikey Madison for Anora, and Demi Moore for The Substance.

This is the one that I don't think is gonna line up like the Golden Globes have, because these are the critics. I think this is gonna line up more with what we've seen from a lot of the critic prizes. So I'm actually gonna pick Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Hard Truths, the director Mike Leigh film.

I hear she plays in a completely unlikable character in that film. I have yet to see it. But I hear she gives an incredible performance, which is why she's been winning these critic prizes.

I think this is one she's gonna win, and it might surprise people because again, she was left out cold from the Golden Globes.

TG: This category is the one that I am having the hardest time with because I feel like Angelina Jolie is probably the only two that I couldn't see winning. Honestly, everybody else I feel like has a pretty good shot. If you would have asked me before the Golden Globes, I would have said Mikey Madison for Anora would probably be the front runner and still could win because she's won a lot of critics prizes for it.

So she could be the winner here. And like you had said, I'm really struggling between Demi Moore, Mikey Madison and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. I'm really struggling because I really feel like it could be any three of those.

But I feel like I'm going to go with Demi Moore for the substance after that surprise win last night. And I'm hoping it's kind of a hope for me, too. Honestly, it might be more of a hopeful prediction because I loved her in this film so much.

So it might be a kind of a wishful prediction, but I am going to go ahead and go with that prediction.

JS: I think last night, Demi Moore became the favorite for the Oscar. I think she surpassed both Mikey Madison and Karla Sofia Gascon as the favorite to win best actress at the Academy Awards. But like I said, because this is the Critics, I think Marianne Jean-Baptiste has a leg up over them.

And I think if you drop Angelina Jolie out of this category, because there are six actresses in this category, there will only be five at the Oscars, I think if you drop Jolie out of this category, you pretty much have your five Oscar nominees.

TG: Yes, I totally agree.
 
JS: The nominees for best actor in a motion picture are Adrien Brody for The Brutalist, Timothee Chalamet for A Complete Unknown, Daniel Craig for Queer, Colman Domingo for Sing Sing, Ralph Fiennes for Conclave, and Hugh Grant for Heretic. I think this is a three-man race. It could be a four-man race.

My inclination is to say it's a three-man race between Adrien Brody, Colman Domingo, and Ralph Fiennes. I know a lot of people think Timothee Chalamet's performance is Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Some people even think it's the favorite to win the Oscars, and who knows?

The Oscars do things like that. They've given it to worse performances before of people basically impersonating rock stars. But I'm going to say that Adrien Brody, who has won an Oscar before for The Pianist, is the front-runner here for The Brutalist.

And I'm going to predict that he'll win the Critics' Prize on Sunday night. Maybe as we have a couple months before the Oscars, he may not necessarily be the favorite for the Oscar, but I think he'll ride the high of winning the Golden Globe and is going to take the Critics' Prize as well. What do you think?

TG: One thing that I think is interesting about this race here is at the Golden Globes, they pretty much snubbed Sing Sing except for Colman Domingo's nomination in Lead Actor. But here at this award, they really seem to love it and give it more nominations, like even Best Picture. So it seems to be more heralded by the Critics versus the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

JS: Well, as I said, the Golden Globes have a clear race problem. I mean, Cynthia Erivo gets in because she's green, but otherwise, they have a clear race problem at the Golden Globes, I believe.

TG: Yeah. And I know Colman Domingo has won a lot of Critics' prizes. So I feel like he has definitely won to watch and I could totally see him pull off a win here.

I feel like it is between Brody, Chalamet, Domingo and finds pretty... I do think that Chalamet was peaking a little bit. I was actually kind of thinking he might win last night over Adrien Brody, but Adrien Brody managed to win.

So but I honestly am going to go with you though. I feel like it's going to be Adrien Brody for The Brutalist. I feel like that movie is the front runner for Best Picture at the Oscars too.

And I feel like this movie is going to manage to pull off several wins in the big category.

JS: Tyler and I are agreeing on our prediction with Adrien Brody for Best Actor in a Motion Picture. Our first disagreement has come, whereas I'm picking Marianne Jean-Baptiste for Best Actress for Hard Truths, and he has Demi Moore for The Substance. So, let's get on to Best Director.

The nominees are Jacques Audiard for Emilia Perez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Jon M. Chu for Wicked, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, Coralie Fargeat for The Substance, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, and Denis Villeneuve for Dune Part II. Now, I think, oh man, this one's tough.

I'm going to say that Brady Corbet wins for the three and a half hour drama, The Brutalist, but here's the thing, I think because it's the critics, I'm gonna say watch out for RaMell Ross. He's been getting a lot of great press for directing Nickel Boys, which supposedly is this like majorly differently directed and shot film. I haven't seen it yet, but there's been a lot of good press for RaMell Ross, so it would not surprise me.

But my prediction is Brady Corbet for The Brutalist.

TG: Yeah, that's definitely who is my prediction for Best Director is Brady Corbet. Because even when it seemed like Anora was the front-runner for Best Picture, which is very arguable now after last night, it's getting completely shut out. I've seen Anora and I don't direct the direction of the movie, it's really not the thing that really stands out about the movie that much.

I felt like even if it would manage the Best Picture, when Best Director would go to somebody else, and Brady Corbet definitely has this sweeping epic that tends to win a lot of the directors this award.

JS: Again, something tells me that with the critics, it would not be surprised to see RaMell Ross, but yeah, I'll go with Corbet. I feel like it's the easier, more likely pick.

Nominees for Best Motion Picture are Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune Part II, Emilia Perez, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, The Substance and Wicked.

It's a tough year. There doesn't seem like a huge favorite here. I feel like half of these films have a decent shot to win at the Critics' Choice at least, and even going forward to the Oscars.

But maybe I'm just riding the wave from the Golden Globes. Maybe I shouldn't be, but maybe I am. So I'm going to predict the Brutalist wins this one.

TG: Yeah. And spending, like I said a few minutes ago, after I watched Anora, I remember texting you and being like, I can't believe this is the front runner that they're saying is the front runner. A lot of these prizes for Best Picture, and my immediately thought was looking at all of the list.

I was like, the Brutalist feels like right up the alley of what critics tend to like and what Oscar voters tend to like, which the Academy is expanding their voters, so their taste might change. But it feels like the kind of movie that critics and the Academy will get behind. And I would personally love for Wicked or The Substance to win.

I don't feel like either one of them have a real good shot of winning.

JS: So once again, we are agreeing here with Best Picture going to the Brutalist. All right, that does it for the movie portion of the Critics' Choice Awards. We wanted to get that out of the way first in case we don't have any TV watchers who are listening in, because we have a ton of TV categories to get to.
So thanks for joining us if you were just here for the movie portion.

We'll get into television now, and we'll start with limited series categories. The best actor in a limited series nominations are Colin Farrell for The Penguin, Richard Gadd for Baby Reindeer, Tom Hollander for Feud, Capote vs. The Swans, Kevin Kline for Disclaimer, Ewan McGregor for A Gentleman in Moscow, and Andrew Scott for Ripley.

Tyler, where do you see this one going?

TG: I feel like Colin Farrell, Richard Gadd, and possibly Andrew Scott, like those three for me feel like the frontrunners in this race. I completely agree. After last night, Colin Farrell managed to beat Richard Gadd at the Globes.

So that kind of, I was like, whoa, you know, because Richard Gadd is who I pretty much thought would win every time he was nominated. So part of me wants to say Colin Farrell for The Penguin after last night, but I don't know. I just, I still am holding on that it might be Richard Gadd for Baby Reindeer.

JS: Yeah, the interesting part about this is because of when they premiered and aired, Baby Reindeer was eligible for all of the Emmy Awards from the past year, but The Penguin was not. So until the Golden Globes last night, we haven't seen Colin Farrell versus Richard Gadd. But I'm going to say Richard Gadd is going to take this because it's the Critics.

I actually think if Gadd has competition here, it may be Andrew Scott for Ripley, whom he beat at the Emmy Awards. And honestly, they're both two of my favorite performances from 2024. And I think that there's this great monologue, an 11-minute monologue that Richard Gadd does toward the end of the Baby Reindeer series that I think has won him the awards that he's won.

Otherwise, if it weren't for that, it may actually go to Andrew Scott. The nominees for best actress in the limited series are Cate Blanchett for Disclaimer, Jodie Foster, True Detective Night Country, Jessica Lange for The Great Lillian Hall, which is actually made for TV movie, Cristin Milioti for The Penguin, Phoebe Rae Taylor for Out of My Mind, also a TV movie, and Naomi Watts for Feud: Capote Versus the Swans. Jodie Foster has been winning all the prizes in this category.

She won the Emmy Award. She won the Golden Globe Award. And I'm going to predict that she's gonna win the Critics' Choice Award here, but I have a slight feeling that Cristin Milioti may be a surprise on Sunday night, because I know the Critics absolutely loved her performance in HBO's The Penguin.

So we'll see. We'll see if a superhero or super villain type character can unseed one of the all time great actresses in Jodie Foster.

TG: Yeah, I definitely am going with Jodie Foster and feeling like she's gonna ride this way from the Emmys and from the Golden Globes on to winning here. You know, what I will say, one thing that surprised me about this race is I felt like Cate Blanchett doing TV would be like, wow, like, and she might win everything because Cate Blanchett is fantastic. So I'm surprised I haven't seen Disclaimer, though, so I don't really understand why it's not why it's been not fully managing to bring it on to a win.
But I just know that that's kind of shocked me that she hasn't been seeming to be able to win because I felt like she could easily win. Like I said, I do think that it's going to be Jodie Foster. But I'm thinking that Cate Blanchett could possibly spoil.

I don't know if it's just because I'm in love with her.

JS: Well, I have seen Disclaimer and she is good in it. The issues with Disclaimer are probably more in the script than anything else. It didn't get that much press when it came out.

But like I said, it was OK. It wasn't bad. But I still feel like Foster or Milioti are the two to beat here.

All right, let's get to the nominees for best limited series. And they are Baby Reindeer on Netflix. Disclaimer on Apple TV+. Masters of the Air from Apple TV+. Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office from PBS. The Penguin from HBO. Ripley from Netflix. True Detective Night Country from HBO. And We Worth Lucky Ones from Hulu.

I will say that one of the great things I like about the Critics' Choice Awards is they will pick out some shows and performances that other awards bodies just do not even think to do. And one of those is in this category with Mr. Bates versus the Post Office.

It was like a four episode based on a true story of something that happened over in England in the early 2000s. And it was on PBS Masterpiece Series. And I was enthralled by it.

It wouldn't be my choice over Ripley or Baby Reindeer, but I love the fact that it's included here. I think Baby Reindeer is going to win this, much like it did at the Emmy Awards. But like I said, the Penguin wasn't out at that time.

Disclaimer wasn't out at that time. But I'm still going to go with Baby Reindeer. What do you have, Tyler?

TG: Yes, I agree with you that Baby Reindeer will be the winner. But like you, I'm interested to see if the passion for the Penguin will lead to getting some wins here, like in any of these categories, honestly, because I was thinking about it, too. And Baby Reindeer has been out, you know, a lot longer, too.
So I wonder if that matters at all. It could make a difference.

JS: There could be an impact there.

TG: So that's what makes me think that, you know, it could be a spoils... You know, the Penguin could really spoil them here. But I'm going with Baby Reindeer, but I do feel like there could be a real... This is a category that there could definitely be an upset.

JS: Yeah. All right. Well, let's go to the drama series.

The nominees for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series are Moeka Hoshi from Shogun, Allison Janney from The Diplomat, Nicole Kidman from Lioness, Skye P. Marshall from Matlock, Anna Sawai from Pachinko, and Fiona Shaw from Bad Sisters. And I think this is one of the most wide open categories of the television side of the Critics' Choice Awards.

I really did not know where to go here. It's almost a toss up.

TG: I agree with you 100%. I look at this and I'm like, man, I literally could see them say every single name on here and would not be shocked. Like it's-

JS: Bad Sisters is the only one of these I've seen in full. I've seen the premiere of Matlock and enjoyed it, but I don't know what Skye P Marshall does in the rest of that series. Fiona Shaw was really good in Bad Sisters.

She plays a really unlikable character. Sometimes that can hurt somebody, but she's really good at it. So I could see her winning.

Shogun's been winning everything, but I will say this is the first time we've seen Hoshi as a nominee for anything from that show, so it makes me wonder if it's going to have the success the other ones have had. It would not surprise me if I haven't seen the second season of Pachinko on Apple TV+, but Anna Sawai is a lock to win for Shogun in the lead actress category, so I wonder if it'll be a record-breaking night for Anna Sawai, and she'll win both lead actress for Shogun and supporting actress for Pachinko. But my gut is leaning towards Allison Janney winning for the second season of Netflix's political drama, The Diplomat.

TG: It's funny because I thought when you were talking about how wide open the race was, I was like, oh, this is probably going to be one that we differ on. And what's so funny is that we both came back to the same conclusion because I thought of Allison Janney and how beloved she is, and I feel like this is a really meaty role from what I hear, and she gets to be kind of a villain a little bit, and also kind of be in the political atmosphere, kind of taking her back to The West Wing also. So it just felt like kind of like something that the critics would just eat up.

And they seem to love The Diplomat too with getting nominations for drama series, lead actor and lead actress, and then also getting this. So it feels like the support is definitely there for her to win, and she's so beloved. Nicole Kidman has star power, but with the Lioness getting nothing else, it just feels like she got here because she's Nicole Kidman almost.

And I will say, Skye P. Marshall for Matlock, that was one of my favorite nominations when the list came out. I've loved Matlock.

I've gotten to see about probably about six of the episodes so far, and I just love her and Kathy Bates. They're both so fantastic in the show.

JS: Yeah. Going to best supporting actor in the drama. The nominees are Tadanobu Asano for Shogun, Michael Emerson for Evil, Mark-Paul Gosselaar for Found, Takehiro Hira for Shogun, John Lithgow for The Old Man, and Sam Reed for Interview with the Vampire.

I think this one's less up in the air. I think it's going to be Tadanobu Asano, who just won the Golden Globe for the same category, and he was also nominated for an Emmy Award. He did lose to Billy Crudup for The Morning Show, which I believe would have wasn't eligible.

So I think Asano is going to win this. I love that they've nominated Michael Emerson for his great performance in Four Seasons on Evil. Just truly a wonderful performance.

I love that they have nominated John Lithgow here for The Old Man, which unfortunately was canceled after two seasons on FX. It was really good. And honestly, I haven't seen Shogun, so I can't compare Asano to Lithgow.

But if I had a vote here, I have seen three of these performances. I'd probably have to give it to Lithgow. But I think this is a lock for Asano.

What do you think?

TG: Yes, 100%. You know, I was actually having a hard time with this category for some reason until last night. And then because I was I didn't know which Shogun guy it might be.

And then I know I know that the Critics especially really love evil. Like they have championed it even when the Emmys have overlooked it, when the Golden Globes have overlooked it. They have they've really latched on to it.

They have nominated it pretty much almost every year, I think.

JS: And this is this is why we should let the Critics pick more awards.

TG: Yes.

JS: They're just better at it.

TG: Yeah, I think it's because they take that's only take the time to actually watch everything more. And I feel like some of the industry insiders are just busier. So they I feel like they only get to see like the main one.

So, you know, and what's buzzy. And that might be why we don't see a lot. These contenders have managed to get in on the Critics Choice.

But yeah, I was I was also not sure between the Shogun guys, which one at first, but then last night kind of made me feel like, OK, I feel like it's going to be Asano.

JS: Yeah, he and Hira were both nominated for the Emmy. So, I mean, Hira could have a shot here. But but yeah, I think I think Asano is the one.

All right. The nominees for best actor in a drama series are Jeff Bridges for The Old Man, Ncuti Gatwa for Doctor Who, Eddie Redmayne for The Day of the Jackal, Hiroyuki Sonada for Shogun, Rufus Sewell for The Diplomat, and Anthony Starr for The Boys. Sonada won the Emmy Award for Shogun.

Sonada won the Golden Globe for Shogun. It would be shocking if Sonada didn't win the Critics' Choice Awards for Shogun. I don't see this going anywhere other than Hiroyuki Sonada.

TG: Yeah, if I was any of these other guys, I would not prepare a speech for that category.

JS: I love Jeff Bridges in The Old Man. Ncuti Gatwa has done wonderful things in his portrayal of The Doctor on Doctor Who. But yeah, this is going to Sonada.

It would be one of the biggest shocks of the evening if it went anywhere else.

TG: Yes, it really would.

JS: All right, best actress in the drama series nominees are Catriona Balfe for Outlander, Kathy Bates for Matlock, Shanola Hampton for Found, Keira Knightley for Black Doves, Keri Russell for The Diplomat, and Anna Sawai for Shogun. It was a big night for Shogun at the Emmy Awards. In fact, the biggest night ever for a drama series.

It was a big night for Shogun at the Golden Globe Awards. It's gonna be a big night for Shogun at the Critics' Choice Awards. Anna Sawai's got this one in the bag.

TG: Yes, I completely agree. And you know, it's funny because when I was really looking at this, part of me was like, I wonder if Kathy Bates has any shot for Matlock. And then I was looking at the list, and I saw that Anna Sawai managed to get two nominations, and I was like, absolutely not.

They love her, and this is the one she's winning everything for. There's no way. Like, I mean, that honestly, I mean, like, I feel like if there anybody else might win, it would be Kathy Bates for the Matlock.

But I feel like this is one of the easiest, like, lock for the night, honestly.

JS: Yeah. And the nominees for Best Drama Series are The Day of the Jackal, which you can see on Peacock, The Diplomat, which is on Netflix, Evil, which is on Paramount Plus, Industry, which is on HBO, Interview with a Vampire on AMC, The Old Man on FX, Shogun on FX, and Slow Horses on Apple TV+. I'm shocked that the Critics are recognizing Slow Horses here, but they did not recognize Gary Oldman as a nominee in Best Actor in a Drama.

That's interesting. But it doesn't matter, because Shogun is going to win this honor.

TG: Yeah, definitely one of the locks of the evening. It's just when it's just you'd manage to do it at the Globes and Emmys managed to just dominate in all the major categories, and I feel like it's just going to continue.

JS: Yeah. And let's get on to the Comedy Series nominees for the Critics' Choice Awards. These are the ones I've seen the most performances and shows of.

And it also has some of the biggest head scratchers for me, too. Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nominees are Paul W. Downs for Hacks, Asher Grodman for Ghosts, Harvey Guillen for What We Do in the Shadows, Brandon Scott Jones for Ghosts, Michael Urie for Shrinking, and Tyler James Williams for Abbott Elementary.

How in the ever-loving hell is Harrison Ford not a nominee for Shrinking? Anybody who's seen the second season of Shrinking and tells me Harrison Ford isn't more deserving than Asher Grodman, who plays the pantsless Trevor on Ghosts, the CBS sitcom Ghosts, is out of their mind. Harrison Ford should not only be nominated here, he should probably be the winner of this category.

But I'm going to predict that Tyler James Williams for Abbott Elementary, who I believe has won this category before at this award show, will win it. And you're going to hear this come up again because I know Shrinking is eligible because Michael Urie is in this category. But this is the only time you're going to hear Shrinking as one of the nominees.

I just don't understand it. The Apple TV+ comedy is one of the best shows on television.

TG: This is one of the ones where I really struggled to figure out which one I could think could win. So I decided to go with Harvey Guillen for What We Do in the Shadows. I've looked back and saw that he's been nominated, one of the nominees consistently every year.

And with this not seeming like it has just an obvious front runner, it made me wonder if maybe they will finally, because What We Do in the Shadows is definitely a show. They've championed too and really latched on to it, given award attention. So part of me just wonders if this might be the year that they give him that award.

And with this race seeming wide open, it made me wonder. I'm also wondering, I will say as a Hacks fan, I would love it if Paul W. Downs somehow won.

But I'm not sure of it, but it is wide open.

JS: It wouldn't surprise me if Paul W. Downs wins this category. This was the final season for What We Do in the Shadows for the FX Vampire Comedy.

So if Harvey Guillen wins, it'd be huge for the fans of that show. They'd be very happy about that. But I think going with the old reliable Tyler James Williams is probably the safest bet.

Michael Urie is great in shrinking, by the way. It wouldn't surprise me if he won, but how he got in there over Harrison Ford, I just don't understand that.

The best supporting actress nominees in the comedy series are Liza Colon-Zayas for The Bear, the only Bear actor or actress nominated in this year, Hannah Einbinder for Hacks, Janelle James for Abbott Elementary, Stephanie Koenig for English Teacher, Patty LuPone for Agatha All Alone, and Annie Potts for the final season of CBS's Young Sheldon.

Potts has been in this category quite a few times, so that's kind of like a Harvey Guillen choice. I am shocked that Sheryl Lee Ralph didn't make this category this year.

TG: Me too.

JS: Not that I would have voted for her, it just seems like she's somebody who should be there. Liza Colon-Zayas did win the Emmy Award. That was actually for season two, though, of The Bear.

This nomination is for season three. She did have an excellent episode in season three, though, so that wouldn't be a shock here. Janelle James would not be a shock.

I would not be shocked if they voted for Potts or Stephanie Koenig either. She's great in English Teacher, the FX comedy. But I think this is finally the time that Hannah Einbinder is going to get an award for Hacks, and it's about goddamn time.

TG: I've really went back and forth on this one, because I do feel like it's ultimately going to be Hannah Einbinder or Colon-Zayas. I feel like this race is definitely between them. And I want to go, my heart, because who I would like to see win would be Hannah Einbinder.

But I don't know, part of me was like, well, this was the only bear nomination, so there's probably no chance. But then I thought about it and I was like, well, but this was a show that has been beloved, and she did manage to get in. And I know about, I've heard about the buzz around season three in her episode.

So I'm predicting that she might manage to still win, even though the bear didn't have the love. At first, I thought it was a detriment, but then I thought about it and was like, well, this also could mean the significance of how much they loved her.

JS: Yeah, she stood out a lot in that particular episode that I'm thinking of. So yeah, it could mean she's the most likely to win this category, but man, I think it's Einbinder's time.

TG: It honestly is. She is my should win in that category.

JS: Yeah, she would be mine too. But I swear this is the time to do it. So maybe I'm just wishful thinking, but it's time.

The nominees for Best Actor in a Comedy Series are Brian Jordan Alvarez for English Teacher, Adam Brody for Nobody Wants This, David Alan Grier for St. Denis Medical, Steve Martin for Only Murders in the Building, Kayvan Novak for What We Do in the Shadows, and Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building. It's interesting that Jeremy Alan White is not nominated for The Bear. I think we finally got into The Bear is not a comedy aspect with the Critics, at least.

And they also just didn't care for the third season as much as the first two. So I think that's why The Bear is not shown very much in these categories. But I'm still surprised that Jeremy Alan White didn't crack the category.

And also, where in the ever loving hell is Jason Segel for Shrinking? I like David Alan Grier a lot. St. Denis Medical is okay. It's nothing special. But I like David Alan Grier a lot. How the hell is he here for St. Denis Medical over Jason Segel for Shrinking?

I just don't understand it. This one's pretty wide open. I may surprise some people with this because I don't feel like a lot of people watch the show, but I do know that the critics absolutely adored it.

I think Brian Jordan Alvarez is going to win for English teacher.

TG: Yeah. So for this category, I feel like the only murders of the building guys aren't going to happen. I feel like they would have probably not if they were going to.

So I have I did think it could be Alvarez. I'm ultimately going with this might shock you. The one that I'm going with is Adam Brody for Nobody Wants This.

I've heard that I have not gotten to see the show personally, but I have heard he is fantastic in it and a real big standout. And I know some people were even thinking he would beat Jeremy Allen White last night and he didn't. But I don't know. I just feel like I feel like he might do it.

JS: I would be 100 percent okay with that. In fact, if I had a vote in this category and I have seen every performance in this category, I would vote for Adam Brody. Not only is he funny in that show, but he is probably the most charming character on television of all 2020.

So I would definitely recommend getting to that as soon as you can on Netflix. I would also be thrilled if Kayvan Novak won after six great seasons of What We Do in the Shadows. I just don't really see that happening.

But again, it's wide open, so maybe it will. But again, Alvarez is my pick, but I would not have any issues at all. In fact, would prefer it if Adam Brody won this category.

The nominees for best actress in a comedy series are Kristen Bell for Nobody Wants This, Quinta Brunson for Abbott Elementary, Natasia Demetriou for What We Do in the Shadows, Bridget Everett for Somebody Somewhere, Jean Smart for Hacks, and Kristen Wiig for Palm Royale. Man, I don't know. I really don't know.

I am predicting Jean Smart. She's won the Emmy all three seasons. She's won the Golden Globe for two of the three seasons.

I'm pretty sure she's won this honor before, probably multiple times. I'm going to give it to her again. I think she was great.

I think Hacks was the best show on television in 2024. But damn, I love Bridget Everett's performance in Somebody Somewhere on HBO. Again, I don't think a lot of people have seen it, but man, it is a great performance.

But it's also one that is, whereas Jean Smart is just funny all the time, Bridget Everett is a mixture of funniness and great dramatic acting, which is why I'm surprised Jason Segel, which is the same for comedy, didn't make it for Shrinking, but Bridget Everett is here for Somebody Somewhere. If I had a vote, I might even give it to Bridget Everett, but my brain is telling me this is Jean Smart's award.

TG: Yeah, it's definitely, it's not good to go against her at all because like you said, she had the Emmys, the Golden Globes, and then I looked and she won for both of the first two seasons for Hacks here too.So I don't feel like there's like an obvious challenger, honestly either. So it might be...

JS: I think it is Bridget Everett. I think if there was a challenger, it would be Everett.

TG: Yeah.

JS: All right, the final category we're going to talk about tonight for the Critics' Choice Awards is Best Comedy Series. I have seen every one of these, and the nominees are Abbot Elementary on ABC, English Teacher on FX, Hacks on Max, Nobody Wants This on Netflix, Only Murders in the Building on Hulu, Somebody Somewhere on HBO, St. Denis Medical on NBC, and What We Do in the Shadows on FX. Where in the Ever Loving Hell is Shrinking?

Man, this one is hard. I looked at a lot of best TV shows of 2024 lists toward the end of last year, and Somebody Somewhere was number one on multiple lists, and English Teacher was towards the top on many, many lists. They were higher than Hacks on many lists that I saw.

I don't necessarily agree with that, even though I liked both of those seasons. But it makes me think English Teacher or Somebody Somewhere may surprise and win this award, but again, as much as they're loved by Critics, I don't know if they're seen as much by Critics at large. I don't know if that makes a whole lot of sense, but that's leading me to pick Hacks over Somebody Somewhere and English Teacher.

And Hacks did win the Emmy Award, and Hacks did win the Golden Globe Award. So maybe that's in my head too, but I'm going to Hacks here.

TG: Yeah, and see, you know, one thing too, Hacks has not won this category yet either. So this would be their way of kind of almost playing catch up, you know, to the Globes and the Emmys, giving that comedy series. And it's kind of riding the wave, you know, now too with the Emmys and the Golden Globe.

I feel like that this will be the year that Hacks finally gets that Critics' Choice Award.

JS: Yeah, I can't believe, I'm just laughing. I can't believe Denis Medical is here. Shrinking is not, The Bear is not, Ghosts is not. I don't understand that. Do you have anything else you want to say about this category or about Hacks?

TG: No, just that I love it. And I'm excited that they were talking last night at the Gloves about them being in the middle of filming Season 4. That was exciting to hear.

JS: Yeah, it was your favorite show of 2024. It was my favorite show of 2024. So even though I'm thinking a show might sneak in there, it would be probably the most deserving win if it won this category.

Well, I want to thank Tyler Glover for joining me once again here on The Word on Pop Culture Podcast. And I hope you all enjoy the Critics' Choice Awards on Sunday, January 12th. Again, you can see that telecast on the E! Channel starting at 6 p.m. Central Standard Time hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler.

Thanks for joining me, Tyler.

TG: Yes, I loved it.

JS: All right, you have a good one.